At a reception in Hanoi on March 1, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan expressed hope that, with his prestige and relations, the former Ambassador will ask Japanese agencies to accelerate the project to train 1,000 Vietnamese doctors as part of coordinated efforts to strengthen the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership.

The Deputy PM underlined the need to hold the Joint Committee’s meeting soon to continue implementing cooperation agreements on education, economics, trade and investment.

For his part, Mr Norio said he will ask Japan’s relevant agencies and universities to implement their commitments on doctorate training for Vietnam and prepare necessary formalities for building a Japan-funded international standard university in Vietnam.

During his long term of office in Vietnam from 2002-2007, Mr Norio greatly contributed to enhancing relations between Vietnam and Japan, especially in economic and cultural diplomacy.

After his retirement, Mr Norio works as an advisor for a large economic Japanese group.